Speaker Profiles
Keynote Speaker
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2020 Speakers |
Sara AreyWorkshopThe Art of Creating Powerful Affirmations for Expanding Times
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Sara Arey is an author, speaker, and energy mentor. She helps creative entrepreneurs get unstuck and realize their full potential so they can become the leaders they were born to be.
As the president and founder of Refuture Your Life, Sara guides clients through a unique process that enables them to let go of previously insurmountable mindset blocks, habits, and negative self-talk, so that they can reach new levels of success. She’s known for the way she listens with love and presence, using her highly tuned intuition and this process to help dissolve barriers that have held her clients back. The foundation of her work is the Refuturing Process™, which she created after 30 years of studying energy as a certified Reiki Master and then as a certified TAT® Trainer. Refuturing is powerful, gentle and effective energy process that allows clients to create big shifts in their lives. Even years after working with Sara, they report being more loving, confident, relaxed and creative. Sara has worked with clients from over 40 countries, both in her private client work and in professional leadership. Today, she leads online workshops and mentoring groups in addition to her work with private clients. One of Sara's greatest joys is supporting people as they connect with their own inner wisdom, discover who they are in all their uniqueness, and live a life that’s fulfilling - and fun. |
Ruthi Cohen-JoynerWorkshopUnlock Your Soul’s Infinite Wisdom with the Integration of Akashic Records and EFT
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Ruthi is gratefully addicted to yoga, meditation, Tapping, and hanging out in the Akashic field in addition to being a dynamic workshop leader, spiritual teacher, retreat leader, and coach.
She began her spiritual journey in 2009 when she found EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Tapping and began playing with this funny looking, yet extremely effective healing modality. In 2011, she found the Tapping World Summit and she was hooked. In 2012, she did her first EFT training with Jan Luther and this was the beginning of huge, transformative shifts spiritually, emotionally, and energetically that have continued to expand and grow over the last several years. Subsequently, she did Matrix Reimprinting Training and Matrix Birth Reimprinting Training, both of which are offshoots of EFT. She continued her growth with hypnotherapy, ThetaHealing and Emotion Code training and most recently completed several courses in Akashic Record reading. In addition, she has attended several Dr. Joe Dispensa meditation retreats making daily morning meditation and regularly opening her own Akashic Records the foundation for her current spiritual growth. Today when she works with clients, she combines these healing tools in a unique and extremely effective way, working in 3 areas: Healing the past, Learning to manage the present, and Creating a vision for the future to support and encourage her clients to bring forth their own gifts, talents, and abilities. She leads meditation weekly at Flow Yoga, and offers regular local and virtual classes and workshops on a variety of spiritually enriching topics, such as growing gratitude, releasing limiting beliefs, manifesting your dreams and creating clarity for a brighter future. She is also a published course creator on the popular meditation app, Insight Timer. Her program can be found here: https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/course_tips-tools-and-taps-for-daily-transformation As she has grown in her own spiritual journey, she has learned to trust her own soul’s divine guidance, which has created an incredibly impactful way of working with clients. |
Kenji Kumara, M.A.WorkshopActivating Your 3rd Eye and Beyond
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Kenji Kumara is recognized world-wide as a spiritual catalyst and is the creator of Quantum Lightweaving and Sedona Vortex Activations.
With academic training in Education, Psychology and the healing arts, Kenji serves as a facilitator of consciousness to assist those who wish to explore their personal path of illumination and awaken to their Soul’s destiny and life purpose. He serves as a “channel-holder and initiator” of expanded grounded awareness and provides a vibrational space for one’s awakening, self empowered healing and soul mastery. Upon attending one of Kenji’s intensive retreats and online series, many have reported profound life changes and clarity on their life purpose. Many receive on-going benefits such as stress relief, reversal of physical conditions and reduction and elimination of worry, anxiety and self doubt. Kenji is currently living in North Carolina, and he is one of the top healers in Asheville. |
Dr. Deborah MatthewWorkshopLove the Way You Feel! A Whole Person Approach to Health
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Dr. Matthew is the founder and Medical Director of Signature Wellness. Dr. Matthew combined her background in medicine with her interest in fitness, health and nutrition to create a complete medical wellness center.
Dr. Matthew’s area of special focus is in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement. She has completed a 2 year advanced fellowship program in Anti-Aging, Functional and Regenerative Medicine offered by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) which incorporates over 200 hours of continuing medical education. She has passed both written and oral exams offered by the A4M and has been selected as a national and international oral examiner by the A4M – she now tests other physicians to see if they have the knowledge required to meet the standards necessary for certification. She is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM). Dr Matthew is the President of the North Carolina Integrative Medicine Society, member of the Institute of Functional Medicine, and is Board Certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics. |
Dr. Lisa MerrittWorkshopHearthMath
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Dr. Merritt has a passion that was passed down from her late father, Charles S. Alchermes, Jr., D.C., a well-known chiropractor and professor. Dr. Merritt offers lectures/workshops on healthy lifestyle methods. Titles such as “Boosting Your Immune System, Balancing Your Hormones, Help My Thyroid, Acupuncture Works, Spinal Care, Sports Injury Prevention, Healthy Ideas for a Sneaky Cook and Alternative Medicine”, are interesting and informative for varied groups, churches or organizations. Dr. Merritt continues to participate in advanced seminars about functional medicine, and is a member of the North Carolina Chiropractic Association.
Dr. Lisa A. Merritt is the founder Weddington Chiropractic Wellness Center and has been a resident of North Carolina since 1982. Dr. Merritt became licensed as a chiropractic physician (D.C.) in 1980. In 1999 she further progressed to become a Certified Traditional Naturopath (C.T.N.), a certified chiropractic acupuncturist (C.Ac.) and certified in chiropractic rehab physical therapeutics. The doctor’s unique specialties incorporate a structural, chemical and mental approach which offers her patients a holistic treatment to achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives. |
Kelley PalmerWorkshopWhat About Joy?
An Invitation to Center Joy In Our Lives |
Kelley Palmer is an author, coach, wellness advocate and community organizer committed to using the tools and philosophies of yoga to cultivate liberation for herself and others.She remains focused on holding space for others to make connections to sustainable tools that foster more peace, joy and ease in their lives.
Kelley is a 200 E-RYT with Yoga Alliance and a certified continuing education provider with Yoga Alliance. She is also a certified Accessible Yoga teacher and trainer. Her writing, offerings and more about her can be found at www.peacefilledmama.com |
Ashley Tisdale
Friday WorkshopThe Power of Play: How Drumming Connects Us
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Ashley Tisdale, MT-BC is a board-certified music therapist and accredited drum circle facilitator working in the greater Charlotte area. Over the last 6 years, Ashley has facilitated drum circles and taught several continuing education courses on basic percussion playing skills and facilitation techniques in North and South Carolina. She has attended facilitation workshops through Village Music Circles to refine her skills as a facilitator and will be completing her certification requirements as a VMC Global Drum Circle Facilitator Trainer in February, one of only 20 in North America.
Ashley facilitates monthly circles at N-Motion studio in Tega Cay, SC and at the Heartlight Spiritual Center in the University area of Charlotte. She also gives her time and abilities to the local non-profit organization DrumSTRONG, who provides drum circles to raise funds for cancer survivorship and research in the Charlotte area and around the world. In her work as a board-certified music therapist, Ashley works primarily with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provides piano, ukulele, and drum set lessons for students of any age and ability. Every drumming event Ashley facilitates there is a question that is asked and answered, "What can I do to serve the circle?". In watching the group's connection, listening deeply to the rhythms at play, and feeling the energy of the group, Ashley facilitates the circle to take them on their our rhythmical journey, to elevate the group's musicality, and deliver them to their own rhythmic bliss. Music and rhythm have always been a part of Ashley's life, and she is excited to share the joy and empowerment that it can bring with all of you! Testimonials: “Ashley Tisdale brings it! She is one of the rising stars in the next generation of facilitators of interactive rhythm experiences. You simply won’t find a brighter spirit to light up your event.” Greg Whitt, Facilitator & Educator at Drum For Change, Past-President, Drum Circle Facilitators Guild "Ashley has a special spirit in her presence as a facilitator that helps everyone believe in themselves and the potential of the group. Ashley is highly skilled in the facilitation of rhythm based events. She’s a leader in the new generation of leaders and practitioners in the drum circle community." Jim Boneau, Principal Facilitator & Leadership Coach, The Rumble Group "Ashley is a top notch facilitator of rhythm events. Her enthusiasm for helping the group come together to create music is contagious. Her caring open spirit creates a safe inclusive space. Your participants will not only have fun but will find a new way of communication and community." Nellie Hill, Music Educator, Drum Circle Facilitator, and Executive Director of the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild, Playful Spirit Adventures |
Maia TollKeynote SpeakerFinding Wild Wisdom at the Juncture of Intellect & Intuition
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Maia Toll is the author of The Illustrated Herbiary which won an Indie Award, a Nautilus Award, has been on the Pacific Northwest bestseller list, and sold over 38,000 copies during its first year in print. While published in 2018, the seeds for The Illustrated Herbiary and the other books in The Wild Wisdom Collection (The Illustrated Bestiary, October 2019 and The Illustrated Crystallary, June 2020) were planted years earlier when Maia apprenticed with a traditional healer in Ireland where she spent extensive time studying the growing cycles of plants, the alchemy of medicine making, and the psychology of working with humans and illness. These experiences reawakened an interest in natural philosophy and mysticism which had been a large part of Maia’s academic studies at The University of Michigan and New York University.
Translating the lessons of the natural world for the modern seeker led Maia to open a small shop called Herbiary in 2006. Herbiary now has locations in both Asheville, NC and Philadelphia, PA. Maia has been featured in a PBS special, had a recipe published in The New York Times, gotten photographed by National Geographic Traveler, and been called “a real life Professor Sprout from Harry Potter” by Forbes magazine. She has taught Botanical Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, West Chester University, and Pennsylvania Hospital. She regularly teaches at conferences and festivals where she encourages people to use patterns and metaphors from the natural world to help them understand and grow within their own lives. Maia lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her life and business partner and their two ridiculously spoiled dogs. |
And Introducing Our MC's / Stage Maestro's
Yvonne VictorYour Room Maestro
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Yvonne Victor is a Certified Life and Business Coach who is dedicated to helping professional women create a balanced, sustainable and fulfilling life. She’s worked in Corporate Administration for more than 30 years and is a trained Peacekeeper and Community Advocate. In 2019, she launched her own coaching practice, as her “second act” and now coaches others to move past blocks and dream big, in order to create the life of their dreams.
As a coach and speaker, she weaves humor and storytelling into her delivery, to motivate and inspire her audience. She is the wife of one, mother of two, Road Tripper Extraordinaire and a committed Foodie, currently living a very beautiful life. |
Grace MillsapYour Room Maestro
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Grace Millsap (500 E-RYT, Ayurveda Wellness Coach) is a lover of life, science geek, and passionate advocate for all forms of health, for all forms of people. From a young age, Grace could often be found sitting in a tree with a notebook, writing down observations of life happening around her. She spent 5 years in the fast-paced, and high-pressure, scientist world, where she conducted research for UNC-Chapel Hill in the intersecting fields of nutrition, genetics, and neuroscience. In 2013, she completed her first yoga teacher training, and immediately began to draw connections between modern science, and ancient yogic science and philosophy.
Since then, Grace’s heart has been set on fire, and she has taught over 2000 hours in Charlotte, local and international retreats, yoga festivals, and her classes can be found online at www.yogavibes.com. Grace believes that Yoga is an action word, and co-created “Ethics in the Yoga Community”, a dynamic series that looks at the tough topics in the community through facilitated panel discussions and group practices to foster trust and connection. Grace has been a long-time supporter of SHIFT Charlotte, and is super excited to be involved this year! |
Interested in Becoming a SHiFT Speaker?We are always on the lookout for new folks to bring to our stages and events. Fill out our Speaker Application and we will be in touch to explore more.
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